*Australia’s High Court has barred conservative commentator Candace Owens from entering the country, affirming the government’s decision to deny her visa.
Politico reports that the court found Owens could “incite discord” among communities, posing a risk to social harmony. Justices Stephen Gageler, Michelle Gordon, and Robert Beech-Jones emphasized that the implied freedom of political communication “is not a ‘personal right,’ is not unlimited and is not absolute.” The ruling reinforces the Migration Act’s authority to protect the nation from visitors who might provoke unrest.
Owens had sought entry for a November 2024 speaking tour, but Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke rejected her visa under the Migration Act’s character provisions. Australia denied entry due to her controversial comments about Nazi medical experiments and the Holocaust.
“From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust with comments about [Nazi doctor Josef] Mengele through to claims that Muslims started slavery, Candace Owens has the capacity to incite discord in almost every direction,” Burke told Australian outlets at the time. “Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else,” he added.
Scroll to continue reading
Burke also highlighted Owens’ “extremist and inflammatory comments towards Muslim, Black, Jewish and LGBTQIA+ communities which generate controversy and hatred.” He warned that her presence could exacerbate tensions, potentially leading to “increased hostility and violent or radical action.”
The court’s ruling requires Owens, referred to as Ms. Owens Farmer in legal documents, to cover the government’s legal costs. The High Court dismissed Owens’ claim that the visa denial violated her implied freedom of political communication.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Australia Denies Entry to Candace Owens Over Controversial Nazi Comments
Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE.
